Stretchable exerciser with detachable auxiliary handgrip

ABSTRACT

A muscle-building device which adds additional exercises to the conventional stretchable exercising device by the use of uniquely designed handles having transversely positioned handgripping members running parallel to the stretchable members, these handgripping members being detachably connected to the conventional gripping member and the frame to which the stretchable members are attached.

United States Patent Lionel C. Perelra 58 Clyde SL, Pawtucket, R.l. 02860 872,932

Oct. 31, 1969 July 13, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented STRETCHABLE EXERCISER WITH DETACHABLE AUXILIARY HANDGRIP 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

US. Cl. 272/83, 272/67 Int. Cl A63b 21/02 Field of Search 272/79, 80,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 399,699 3/1889 Sachs 272/82 2,819,08l [/1958 Touraine 272/80 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind At!0rneyBarlow and Barlow ABSTRACT: A muscle-building device which adds additional exercises to the conventional stretchable exercising device by the use of uniquely designed handles having transversely positioned handgripping members running parallel to the stretchable members, these handgripping members being detachably connected to the conventional gripping member and the frame to which the stretchable members are attached.

PATENTED JUL 1 3197:

INVENTOR LlONEL C. PEREIRA ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an exercising device popular with both males and females of all age groups for toning and building muscles basically of the arms and upper torso. It is operated by holding a pair of handgrips having resilient members attached therebetween and pulling the handgrips apart to expand the resilient members. Repeated use of the exercising device builds up reserves of energy, strength, and endurance.

The action of stretchable exercising devices is such that as the springs are stretched apart there is an ever increasing resistance resulting from the tension in the springs that is trying to return the springs to their tension free state. It is this action that puts a strain on the muscle being exercised so that repeated stretching of the springs develops and tones the muscles.

The stretchable exercising devices of the past have been used in numerous exercises such as the front chest press, archers movement, one-hand curl, etc. Each of these individual exercises is designed to exercise certain muscles of the body. These exercises in the past have all been done on stretchable exercisers wherein the handgrips are oriented perpendicular to the axis of the resilient members. Variations are possible by having the resilient members attached at one end to foot stirrups or brackets mounted on the wall or floor. These have added more exercises than may be done with a conventional stretchable exerciser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention combines all the good features of the conventional stretcher exercising device with applicants uniquely designed handle that allows innumerable variations on the exercises previously possible with the conventional stretcher exerciser. Each variation exercises a different grouping of muscles giving the exercising device additional versatility.

When the auxiliary handgrip .is removed, the present invention is gripped by its handles in a conventional manner. By attaching the auxiliary handgrip the person exercising can then grasp the exercising device with his hands wrapping around grips which extend in a direction parallel to the direction that the expandable resilient members extend. This changing of the position with which the hands grip the exerciser, calls forth the use of a different grouping of muscles for each exercise. This in effect doubles the number of exercises which could be performed by a conventional stretcher exerciser.

An added advantage of the new exerciser is that it replaces other costly and heavy exercising devices. For example, when doing chin ups, the hands are positioned facing away from ones body. With the auxiliary handgrips in position, the overhead pulldown to back exercise may be done which exercises the same muscles as do chin ups. This effectively eliminates the need and cost ofa chin up bar.

Another example would involve the replacement of dumbbells that are normally used in doing the curl exercises. With dumbbells, curls can be done which exercise the biceps or by turning ones wrist the triceps will be exercised. In the past, a conventional stretcher used with a foot stirrup could only be used to do the curl exercise that worked the biceps. With the auxiliary handgrip in position, curls can be done to exercise the triceps also. Again we have eliminated another device namely dumbbells.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved expandable stretcher exerciser capable of exercising additional groups of muscles.

Another object of the invention is to produce an exerciser that would effectively eliminate the need for some other exercising devices thereby saving money which would have been spent to purchase the other device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single exercising device capable of exercising muscles in the manner of several different exercising devices and being of such a compact size and limited weight that it could be carried in a thin briefcase. This would provide a convenient exerciser for the individual who likes to exercise at work, while traveling, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure shows the exercising device in perspective with the elements of one of the handles in detached view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the handlesof the exerciser are generally indicated by 10. Arms 12 extend along both the upper and the lower portions of the handle with their elbows 14 attached to the top and bottom of the primary handle grip 16. The handle is essentially cylindrical with a ribbed surface at its middle to provide a better gripping service. Attached to the other end of the arms 12 is a cross brace 34. A bracket 38 is loosely engaged by finger rod 36 which forms a complete loop from the top of the cross brace around to its bottom edge. The bracket has an elongated oval cross-sectional shape with the rod 36 bearing along the length of one of the rounded end portions when the exercising device is being expended. Along the length of the opposite rounded end portion are a plurality of slots 40 into which the eyelet rings on the end of the springs 50 slip. A pin 42 is inserted down through the top opening of the bracket and slips through the eyelet rings that have been inserted in the slots 40. At the bottom of the pin is an annular groove 44 over which is slipped an, elastic fastener 46 to secure the pin in the bracket. The manner of securing the pin is merely descriptive of one of many ways that the pin could be prevented from slipping out of the bracket.

The auxiliary handgrip 22 is attached to the handleparallel to the arms and midway therebetween. The auxiliary handgrip 22 has a threaded rod 20 extending from its one end. The protruding end of the rod 20 is inserted in a hold 18 bored in the side of primary handgrip 16. At the other end of the auxiliary handgrip, the rod forms an elbow 28. A washer 24 and nut 26 are employed to keep the rod 28 from turning with respect to the grip 22. The end of the elbow 28 is also threaded and is inserted through hole 32 in the cross brace 34. A nut 30 is then threaded on the tip of the elbow to secure it in place.

It is to be realized that other resilient expandable members other than springs could be used with the handgrips of the invention, for example elastic cables could be used. Also it is common knowledge to use resilient members of different strengths and to vary the number of springs attached to the handgrips.

Iclaim:

l. A stretchable exercising device comprising a pair of handles with elongated expandable resilient means connected therebetween, said handles having an upper and a lower arm with a vertical primary handgrip connecting the arms on one end and a cross brace connecting the arms on the other end, an auxiliary handgrip detachably mounted between and parallel to the arms with means to attach one end to the primary handgrip and means on the other end to attach it to the cross brace.

2. A handle for use with a stretchable exercising device of the type that has a pair of such handles with elongated expendable resilient means connected therebetween, said handle comprising an upper and lower arm, a vertical primary handgrip connecting the arms on one end, a cross brace connecting the arms on the other end, an auxiliary handgrip detachably mounted between and parallel to the arms with means to attach one end to the primary handgrip and means on the other end to attach it to the cross brace.

3. A handle as recited in claim 2 wherein the means for attaching the auxiliary handgrip to the primary handgrip is a rod extending from one end of the auxiliary handgrip and mating in a hole bored in the primary handgrip.

4. A handle as recited in claim 3 wherein the means for attaching the auxiliary handgrip to the primary handgrip is an elbow-shaped rod extending from the other end of the primary handgrip, the cross brace having a hole therein with the free end of the rod extending through said hole, the free end being threaded such that a nut may be screwed on the end after it has-passed through the hole to secure the rod.

5. A handle as recited in claim 2 having an additional finger rod attached to the top forward end of the cross brace said rod making a closed loop downwardly to the bottom of the cross brace, a bracket loosely engaged by said finger rod and said bracket having a plurality of slots along one of its vertical edges for releasably retaining the eyelet hooks of resilient expandable members therein by means ofa pin dropped through the top opening in the bracket and also slipping downwardly through each of the eyelet hooks, the pin being retained at its bottom by a fastener. 

1. A stretchable exercising device comprising a pair of handles with elongated expandable resilient means connected therebetween, said handles having an upper and a lower arm with a vertical primary handgrip connecting the arms on one end and a cross brace connecting the arms on the other end, an auxiliary handgrip detachably mounted between and parallel to the arms with means to attach one end to the primary handgrip and means on the other end to attach it to the cross brace.
 2. A handle for use with a stretchable exercising device of the type that has a pair of such handles with elongated Expendable resilient means connected therebetween, said handle comprising an upper and lower arm, a vertical primary handgrip connecting the arms on one end, a cross brace connecting the arms on the other end, an auxiliary handgrip detachably mounted between and parallel to the arms with means to attach one end to the primary handgrip and means on the other end to attach it to the cross brace.
 3. A handle as recited in claim 2 wherein the means for attaching the auxiliary handgrip to the primary handgrip is a rod extending from one end of the auxiliary handgrip and mating in a hole bored in the primary handgrip.
 4. A handle as recited in claim 3 wherein the means for attaching the auxiliary handgrip to the primary handgrip is an elbow-shaped rod extending from the other end of the primary handgrip, the cross brace having a hole therein with the free end of the rod extending through said hole, the free end being threaded such that a nut may be screwed on the end after it has passed through the hole to secure the rod.
 5. A handle as recited in claim 2 having an additional finger rod attached to the top forward end of the cross brace said rod making a closed loop downwardly to the bottom of the cross brace, a bracket loosely engaged by said finger rod and said bracket having a plurality of slots along one of its vertical edges for releasably retaining the eyelet hooks of resilient expandable members therein by means of a pin dropped through the top opening in the bracket and also slipping downwardly through each of the eyelet hooks, the pin being retained at its bottom by a fastener. 